Whenever we think of India, our mind is flooded with 
pictures of the beautiful landscapes, 
the colourful festivals and the different people among all of it. 
People in India who wear different clothing, 

speak different languages and dine on different delicacies. 
Yes, India is a country rich in diversity in which, 
We, Indians take immense pride. Even though sometimes such 

diversity poses multiple challenges, 
we tend to find a sense of togetherness among ourselves.

I personally, am a huge fan of festivals be it Diwali, Eid, Durga Puja, Navratri or Christmas, I never miss an opportunity to spruce up and join in the celebrations. This reminds of last year's Christmas party at Mrs Williams' place. The Williams family had just moved in next to us a month before Christmas so naturally I didn't expect an invitation. Overjoyed on receiving the invite I wore my best red dress paired with my sister's favorite bag which I slyly removed from her room: I never really had been to a proper Christmas celebration before, and was utterly amazed on entering their house! It was like walking into an Enid Blyton story! The air smelt of freshly baked goods, there was a small christmas tree sparkling with ornaments and the friendliest people who warmly welcomed me into their home. It was one of the best Christmases of my life. We sang Christmas Carols, played games and feasted on home-made baked goods! I know you are counting the days till Christmas from now, aren’t you?
Another time, I went to Mumbai to visit my cousin. It was the time of Ganesh Puja and I had never really been to Mumbai at that time of the year. I was pleasantly surprised on seeing that my Masi had decorated the house and bought several boxes of sweets. She quickly pulled out a gorgeous new salwar for me to wear. Ecstatic, I got ready for the Puja. I had also brought my friend Fatima with me who always invited me to her Eid celebration every year where I gorged on delicious Biryani. After the puja, we drove to the orphanage and distributed sweets. Looking at the children's smiling faces filled me with joy. Finally, we arrived home where we sat together and played Dumb Charades, and had Prasad. We sang old hindi songs and laughed to our heart's content. Suddenly, Fatima asked me in a hushed voice if she could come with me to Mumbai next time during Ganesh Puja , I smiled and nodded.

These are a few times I truly enjoyed myself and was glad that I was born in a place where I could be a part of these vibrant festivals, where people, in spite of their past, welcomed each other with open arms. Such is India. And even better than its festivals are its people who make India what it is, not just a place where festivals are celebrated, a place where families are made, related not just by blood, but by their identities as Indians.
The only thing brighter than the colours of our festivals, is the feeling of unity as a country. Many people feel that the past religious violence was due to the huge variety of cultures that exist here but I believe it is the diversity that unites us as Indians.